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This is what Jonathan said to me about a week ago. I was sick, still feeling like a half-crippled rhino when I did make attempts to run, and reviewing a list of unappealing, far-flung marathons in April.

That fellow gives good advice sometimes. I’m listening to him, for once. I’ve got no marathon plans whatsoever. I need to be able to run “like everybody else” again (in the words of Special K*) before I can think about that.

Who knows what the spring holds? I can’t afford to care too much. As for the fall, I may want to run Chicago. Or I may not. It all depends. But there will be no plans for the time being. It’s just going to be day by day.

*Thanks to all who offered kind words on that article and about both Sandra and Khalid.

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9 Responses

On the one hand, I want to disagree – with marathons, you DO have to plan. However, I totally understand how planning for such a commitment can be overwhelming – I definitely fought that battle when I needed to go check off a state but really didn’t want to travel. I say only consider the marathons that REALLY excite you because there’s something unique about them. You want the race to be something you look forward to!

Thanks, Laura. I think we’re in a slightly different place when it comes why we run marathons. But I agree with you that one shouldn’t plan on doing a race unless it’s something worth getting excited about, for whatever reason.

I think he is right, JT. I am in your same situation right now. I decided to stop making plans for my racing a couple of weeks ago, after getting excited about running the Nat’l championship 1/2 in Houston and then being disappointed when my leg wasn’t healing “on time”. My plan is to be running healthy for at least a couple of weeks before I feel like I’ll be ready to even plan for a next race. Day by day.

It’s funny how, when our various body parts can’t get with our brain’s program, we get upset. I have been treating my adductor like some kind of low-level service personnel. How dare it defy my brain by lollygagging around! I’m hoping that if I start treating it with more respect it will reward me in kind. May you also be treated kindly by your problem leg.

Listen to Jonathan. Don’t plan. Wait until you feel like you can fly when you run. Then wait some more; then slot in a race. But you don’t have to think of it like waiting, because that feels too passive for you and me, right? It’s more like germinating.

My legs are sentient beings. The other day they got me out the door when the rest of me was saying “No way!” Marathons do need some planning, perhaps that’s part of the appeal. But it’s a major PITA when you don’t know if you will be fit.